Phytochemical profile, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of extracts of Gnaphalium oxyphyllum and Euphorbia maculata native to Sonora, Mexico

The use of synthetic chemical compounds to preserve foods or treat diseases of bacterial origin is limited because they can cause health damage. Therefore, the food and livestock industries seek natural strategies to preserve foods and preserve the health of animals intended for human consumption. In this sense, some extracts of plant from Sonora, Mexico could be an alternative due to the great diversity of plants and the fact that some of them are traditionally used to treat diseases. On the other hand, there are few studies that support the biological activity of ethanolic extracts of Gnaphalium oxyphyllum (E1) and Euphorbia maculata (E2). In this study, phytochemical content was determined by spectrophotometry, antimicrobial activity was determined by agar diffusion and antioxidant activity was evaluated by ABTS, DPPH and FRAP. The results showed that the E1 and E2 extracts had total phenols, total flavonoids, flavones and flavonols, total flavanones and dihydroflavonols, as well as total tannins, total chlorogenic acid and total polysaccharides. In addition, both extracts showed higher antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC 14028 when 1 mg ml-1 was used (P<0.05). In addition, they presented antioxidant activity by the methods of ABTS, DPPH and FRAP. Therefore, the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of these plants represents a natural alternative to control some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the livestock industry, as well as for food preservation.